Spotting a Concealed Weapon

Eyes up on a swivel; Cues pertaining to concealed carry:

From a Canadian law enforcement
perspective, I have only seized a couple of handguns directly off of criminals
on the street. Most of the guns that I have found were hidden in vehicles,
luggage, etc. in relatively close proximity to the subject. The very first gun I ever seized was during
an early morning check of a hitch-hiker for warrants. As I spoke with him, I
foolishly remained seated in the driver’s seat of the cruiser and he kept
reaching inside his coat (it was a cold February morning). I finally made him
stand in front of the cruiser so I could watch him as I checked his ID. It turned
out that he had pulled an armed robbery with a handgun the day before and a
warrant existed for his arrest. I took him down at gunpoint and, upon searching
him; I found that he had a .25 Auto in his front, left, inside coat pocket. He
told me he didn’t pull it because he thought he couldn’t beat me on the draw.
Note that I was seated in the car with a .38 in a thumb-break holster, my hand
was on the gun because I usually rested it there however, I would have had
issues drawing and presenting to him. Essentially, I would have been trapped
behind the wheel. Obviously, I have
since practiced drawing from being seated in a vehicle and working around the
steering wheel. And, of course, I have since never stayed seated in the car
when speaking to a “client”. I find that I should note that this was in 1992
and there was very little “tactical” instruction or training available or
offered by our service at that time.

Courtesy Robert T. Gallagher, former NYPD

detective, ARTU (Anti Robbery Tactical Unit)

Click on to Enlarge

In other cases, I’ve watched armed criminals
who were known to be carrying a concealed firearm who were constantly adjusting
the gun. Upon their arrest, it was found that they were not wearing any form of
holster. I have seen cheap nylon holsters worn by some criminals but more often
than not, they did not have a holster. In these cases, they were carrying in a
coat pocket or in their waist-band in either an appendix carry or strong side
carry in the coat pocket or kidney position.

In my experience, I’ve noticed that ,like
many plain clothes or undercover cops, armed people can’t seem to stop touching
the pistol, adjusting it or even flashing it and, in a foot chase, the gun could
likely fall out or end up in their hand (I’ve never had this happen but know of
people who have. I’ve been in foot chases where knives were dropped because
they weren’t secured). I do know of
some higher-end criminals who have both firearms and military experience who do
carry holsters and who do practice their skills. Some of these individuals
carry a daily and can conceal a firearm quite well with no indicators that they
are armed. This lends well to the adage
of “Never underestimate your opponents’ skills”.

Interestingly, there are body language clues and mannerisms that can indicate that a person is armed. In some cases, even the demeanor of the person will change.

With the GWOT returning from open conflict to insurgency and underground movement, the use of insider threats in theatre and terrorist attempts by movement followers within coalitions countries, I felt this was pertinent to share. This is important to LEOs at all times.

Usual Suspects

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